Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

[LookingHard]

Today I started my foray into car care and I think I took a wrong turn somewhere.

First, I used a liberal amount of QD and clay on the hood of a '97 Accord since the hood has the most dings. Having said that, I was mostly trying to learn the process you folks excel in and not do anything drastic since the finish is in pretty good shape overall.

Next I washed the whole car with Meguiars car wash product and dried the whole car carefully.

Then I used the cleaner wax in the clay kit.

Lastly I used Meguiars 'Deep Crystal System polish'.

Why does my hood have bumps? I can't see anything but it is not smooth when I rub my hand across it. It's almost as if it is dusty. The hood does look a bit better though.



Thanks for any advice.
LookingHard

[Murr1525]

Re: Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

Well, you actualy used the wrong product order, that could be some of the problem.

You would want to:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Cleaner/Wax

or:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean
4. Polish
5. Wax

So, putting the polish on top of the wax may have removed some of the wax, or not gotten applied/removed evenly.

How did it feel after you clayed?

[roushstage2]

Re: Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

If you properly clayed with the Quik Clay kit and there is still contamination, you may need a more aggressive clay.

[Andy M.]

Re: Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

Well, you actualy used the wrong product order, that could be some of the problem.

You would want to:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Cleaner/Wax

or:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean
4. Polish
5. Wax

So, putting the polish on top of the wax may have removed some of the wax, or not gotten applied/removed evenly.

How did it feel after you clayed?

I have to agree with Murr. Sounds like you had your order a little messed up. No harm done though.

Andy

[LookingHard]

Re: Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

Some days I feel like 'Joe Btfsplk' from Lil' Abner but that is before many of you were born.

In the overall scheme of things......my 401k dropping 3k today, the city working on the water line and our neighborhood being without water this evening, and my washer tanking.....I guess the wrong sequence isn't too bad after all.

Thanks for helping with my little boo boo.

LookingHard

[Murr1525]

Re: Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

Did the paint feel smooth after you clayed? Or did you check it at all? That would be / would have been the best way to check which step had the problem.

[yalerd]

Re: Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

I would wash / clay and evaluate if you still have the bumps.

[HagFan]

Re: Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

It may be obvious, but you should do your process on a test area, rather than expending the effort on the entire car. If the process works on a small area then you're good to go on the entire vehicle. So for starters, wash or QD a one square-foot area and then see if the clay will smooth it for you.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

It may be obvious, but you should do your process on a test area, rather than expending the effort on the entire car.

This is correct.

Before doing anything else, wash or wipe an effected panel clean, for example the hood.

Next, choose a section to work on about 12 inches square.

Feel the paint in this section. How does it feel? Bumps?

Now clay just this section.

Feel the paint in this section. How does it feel? No bumps? Bumps?

Let us know.

[LookingHard]

Re: Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

Thanks again for all the suggestions. I will try to redo the hood this weekend, and if I get that taken care of I will work on the area in front of the bug deflector that was once over the sunroof.

My guess it that since I don't have a garage any minor problems will just get worse if I don't learn how to give this thing a good wax job.


Thanks,
LookingHard

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

My guess it that since I don't have a garage any minor problems will just get worse if I don't learn how to give this thing a good wax job.

If your car is parked outside all the time, then it's possible you could clay it on a Monday and have to re-clay it on a Tuesday depending upon what's in the air over where your car is parked.

It's not a time issue, (as in claying should last a certain amount of time), it's an air-borne contaminants issue...


Point being you may have to clay your car's paint more often to keep the bumps away. Anything that doesn't wash off using a car wash solution and a wash mitt is likely bonded onto the paint and will require you to clay the finish in order to remove the contaminant.

Thus Meguiar's recommendation to feel your paint after you wash your car or wipe the paint clean with a mist& wipe product.

The underlying point is to be aware of the condition of your car's finish and when it comes to above surface contaminants the only/best way to be aware of the condition of the finish and you do that by feeling the paint with your clean fingers after washing or wiping the car clean.


If your car is parked outside for any length of time then the possibility exists that there could be something drifting in the air where your car is parked and if it lands on your car's paint and bonds to it then if washing doesn't remove it you'll need to clay your car's paint.

Part of maintenance is inspection.

Read this,

How often do I need to clay my car's finish?

[LookingHard]

Re: Hmmmmm......BUMPS...

Thanks for all the advice. One of the issues is the Dogwood that partially overhangs my car. Another is the pigeons, or as they are known locally.....rats with wings.

As a renter I have limited options with the dogwood, and since it is one of the best looking examples in the area I only do a bit of trimming from time to time. Regardless of what I do some limbs will overhang the car, so it may be a sap issue.

The pigeons almost make me want to take up hunting. A nature show I watched claims that as birds and bats 'take off' they take a dump. Personally I think that my car is a target and they seem to be getting better all the time.

On a serious note, I think I will work very hard on one panel at a time, after I get the hood, top, and trunk done. That will keep me from messing up too large of an area at a time.

Have a good weekend and thanks for all the replies, and a special thanks to Mike for the time and effort towards me and many others.


LookingHard